Aung San Suu Kyi calls for sanctions on Burma to remain

Aung San Suu Kyi's party has said that Western sanctions on the country should remain in place, arguing the embargo affected the military regime and not the broader population.

The release of Aung San Suu Kyi has prompted a re-assessment of sanctionsPhoto: REUTERS

7:00AM GMT 08 Feb 2011

The announcement by the National League for Democracy (NLD), Burma'sbiggest opposition force, will be a blow to both the ruling junta and Western investors keen to tap the isolated country's vast natural resources.

"We came to find that the sanctions affect only the leaders of the ruling regime and their close business associates, not the majority of the people," Tin Oo, NLD vice-chairman, said.

Tin Oo said a report based on research by the NLD, whose 1990 election victory was ignored by the junta, would be released later.

Ms Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest on Nov 13, has long backed sanctions as part of her fight against decades of authoritarian military rule in the former British colony also known as Myanmar. The sanctions were intended to force the regime to improve its poor human rights record and initiate democratic reforms.

But many experts say the policy damaged the economy and hurt the Burmese people, pushing the generals closer to neighbours China and Thailand, which are tapping the country's vast energy reserves.

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Soon after her release, Ms Suu Kyi indicated she might recommend the lifting of the embargoes, which prompted a flurry of diplomatic activity and attracted wide attention in the West.

Around the same time, Burma launched a drive to attract Asian investors, touting its tourism potential and abundant supplies of gemstones, timber, oil and gas, much of which remained intact because of "unfavourable Western sanctions".

Such sanctions have not affected the wealth and lavish lifestyles of the junta top brass, but they have hampered efforts to acquire new weapons technology for the military and have increased dependence on China.

Many experts see the sanctions as Ms Suu Kyi's best, and perhaps only, bargaining chip in the changing political landscape.

While hugely popular and a symbol of hope for the Burmese people, Ms Suu Kyi and the NLD have no official political role in Burma having boycotted the Nov. 7 election because of strict election laws.